Vallee-Des-Pretres Residents Wait 3 Years for Action as Flood Promises Fall Flat

Residents of Morcellement Ramlagan are living in a state of constant fear as government pledges to fix the region’s high-risk flood status remain unfulfilled, despite the area being officially designated as a danger zone.

According to the latest Land Drainage Masterplan, the Vallée-des-Prêtres neighbourhood is classified as a high-risk area.

However, locals claim that years of ministerial visits and public commitments have resulted in “zero” tangible change, leaving families vulnerable to a repeating cycle of disaster.

A Cycle of Devastation

The community remains deeply scarred by the catastrophic flooding of 2022 and 2024, which caused extensive property damage and significant economic losses.

Residents report that every period of heavy rain now triggers widespread anxiety, as existing prevention and flood management systems continue to fail.

“Since 2022, the region has suffered floods almost every year,” said Hassen, a local resident. He expressed deep frustration with what he describes as “symbolic” political visits used for photo opportunities rather than action.

Hassen noted that following the 2022 floods, former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth visited the site and made numerous promises that “never materialised.”

Infrastructure Failures

The lack of adequate infrastructure has become a primary concern for the community:

• Failed Drainage Works: Sanitation projects undertaken by the National Development Unit (NDU) in 2023 allegedly damaged the local riverbank ecosystem.
• The Terminus Bridge: Described by locals as a “rubbish dump,” the bridge lacks handrails and poses a direct physical danger to pedestrians.
• Rejected Solutions: Resident proposals for temporary retaining walls to mitigate water flow were reportedly blocked by the Road Development Authority (RDA).

National Context

The plight of Morcellement Ramlagan is part of a broader national crisis. The Land Drainage Masterplan identifies 16 high-risk sites across Mauritius, including areas in Port-Louis, Flic-en-Flac, and Grand-Baie.

In total, flood-prone areas now account for 15.5% of the country’s landmass. These are divided into “prohibited zones” (11%), where construction is forbidden without major upstream works, and “no-extension zones” (4.5%), where only vertical construction may be permitted.

Despite the clear data and the official “high-risk” label, the people of Morcellement Ramlagan say they have been waiting over three years for substantial action.

Having voted for change, they are now demanding that political rhetoric be replaced by the concrete engineering needed to protect their homes and lives.

Source: l’Express